Ira Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science and public administration at Hebrew University.
His books, which are available on Amazon, include:
*Alternative federal solutions to the problem of the administered territories
*Ambiguity, Coping, and Governance: Israeli Experiences in Politics, Religion, and Policymaking
*Ancient and Modern Israel: An Exploration of Political Parallels
*Coping with Terror: An Israeli Perspective
* Governing Israel: Chosen People, Promised Land and Prophetic Tradition
*Governing Jerusalem: Again on the World’s Agenda
* Israel and its Bible: A Political Analysis
* Maligned States: policy accomplishments, problems and opportunities
* Policy Analysis in Political Science
* Policy and Politics in American Governments
* Policy Making in Israel: Routines for Simple Problems and Coping with the Complex
* Politics and Planning in the Holy City
* Politics and Policymaking in Search of Simplicity
* Public Administration: Agencies, Policies, and Politics
* Public Administration Policy Making in Government Agencies
* Public Administration (2nd Edition): Policy Making in Government Agencies
* Regionalism in American Politics
* Rituals of Conflict: Religion, Politics, and Public Policy in Israel
* Spending in the American States
* The Policy Predicament: Making and Implementing Public Policy
* The Political Economy of Israel
* The Politics of Religion and the Religion of Politics
*The Politics of Taxing and Spending
* The Routines of Politics
* The United States: A Study of a Developing Country
* The United States Revisited: A Study of a Still Developing Country
* Urban Politics and Public Policy [Robert Lineberry]
* What Makes Israel Tick: How Domestic Policy-Makers Cope with Restraints
* Wither the State: Politics and Public Enterprise in Three Countries
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There is news about another chapter in the Crusade of Western democracies against what they refuse to label as a problem of Islam. The French have taken on the task of attacking–from the air and with ground troops–a northern Mali “army” of assorted Islamic groups that have threatened to overtake […]
‘Politically correct’ West turns eyes from Islam’s excesses Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel’s election is a bit more than a week away. Some pundits are sure it will produce more of the same, while others are either pleased or fearful about changes they anticipate. Most certain is that Netanyahu will continue as Prime Minister, and most likely with his core of support being
As election nears, likelihood of change recedes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Israel is more than intense argument about political candidates, religion, security, and all the other important issues subject to dispute by Jews who are Talmudic in their style even if they are not religious. Occasionally, it is like other countries, and fascinated with the weather. Over the most recent five days,
Jerusalem snow edges elections in broadcasts Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– We’re hearing different things about Chuck Hagel, and the reasons for his appointment as Obama’s Secretary of Defense.. Clips of his comments about the power of the Jewish lobby, the Palestinians being chained down, and the damage to the standing of the US due to excessive support of Israel Comments expressing
Hagel’s apparent Israel animus only one reason for opposition Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Scandals are prominent in Israeli media only two weeks before the national election. Neither is new, and both are being fanned by political activists concerned to use what they can to garner votes for themselves or the party they are supporting, as well by media personalities who know how to recognize
Barak-Ashkenazi feud now figure in election politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Several of my columns commenting about the United States have produced angry responses, claiming that I do not understand, that my “opinions” are tainted, and that if I do not value the United States I should give up my citizenship. What I think these responses reveal is yet another side of the United
The intellectual right, yea obligation, of independent thought Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The election is boring, but the formation of the next government may be more exciting. Voters are shifting a bit between parties, mostly on account of two new parties in the center and a newly energized party on the right. What is boring is that the major blocs made up
Israel’s election math Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Turning on the radio and opening my browser early in the morning of January 1 in Jerusalem, the news from the world capital, where it was still yesterday, was that the White House and Congress were close, but not yet there with legislation that would keep the American economy–and most
United States a nation of high contrasts Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Even in the best of times, voting is something of a crap shoot for citizens who wish to influence what their government does. Candidates speak in general terms in order to appeal as widely as possible and to give themselves room to maneuver in the face of conditions bound to change.
Israeli voter’s task complicated by coalition politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For those who enjoy the cut and thrust of electoral politics, this is the season to unlimber your Hebrew dictionaries and connect with the web page of Israeli media (www.iba.org.il) There are no less than three simultaneous performances of the cardinal principle, “Do unto others,” along with the lucious taste
Wrestling Israeli politicians find themselves on bottom Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Twice in recent days I’ve run afoul of American parochialism. You’ve already read more than enough about my encounter with gun control enthusiasts. The second is with Reform and Conservative Jews, brought about by an article in the New York Times that bemoans the inability of Reform and Conservative women
Non-Orthodox Jews should not expect U.S. customs in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I’ve tried to convince my American friends how out of step they are on firearms. Being number one in gun ownership and number one in murder does not seem to impress them. Perhaps it stimulates their pride in being different. Everyone else must be off kilter, insofar as individual freedom
An immodest proposal: A gun ghetto, perhaps Texas Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Thirty-four parties are running in Israel’s election, but there are fewer real contenders. Prominent are Likud a bit to the right of center, and Labor a bit to the left of center. There are parties further to the right and the left, each for their true believers, plus two ultra-Orthodox
See the candidates stumble in Israeli elections Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–According to the über-encyclopedia that teaches all of us everything, “defense mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play by the unconscious mind to manipulate, deny, or distort reality (through processes including, but not limited to, Repression, Identification, or Rationalization), and to maintain a socially acceptable self-image or self-schema.” Defense mechanisms abound
Columnist’s inbox the target of gun-control debate Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA